Sterile ampule package



Dec. 23, 1958 s. REZNEK 2,86 ,524

STERILE AMPULE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 13, 1956 INVENTOR SOLOMON REZNEK ATTORNEY United States Patent O STERILE AMPULE PACKAGE Solomon Rezne'k, Albany, N. Y., assignor to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1956, Serial No. 609,674

4 Claims. (Cl. 215-6) This invention relates to a new and improved sterile ampule package providing a sealed glass or other type of ampule which is sterilized on the outside surfaces thereof as well as on the inside, particularly for use under sterile conditions in the hospital operating room.

Where ampules are used'under these conditions, the surgeon whose gloved hands have been sterilized has to handle the ampule by grasping t n his gloved hand and obviously if the outside surfaces of the ampule are not sterile, this leaves a chance of contamination.

The present invention includes the provision of a sterile ampule package comprising the sealed glass container or ampule which is placed in a second, larger glass container or vial, the latter beingprovided with a rubber or similar plug having means thereon for engaging and hold ing the top of the ampule which may be of the snap-off type, having an enlarged end, and the plug having a cavity therein of similar shape by which the ampule is held substantially positively thereby.

By this means the sterile ampule is located and held within the vial by means of the plug and the plug in turn seals the vial maintaining the same sterile.

The invention also provides a hermetically sealed ampule contained and held with n a hermetically sealed container or vial permitting the delivery to the operating room of an ampule which is sterile on both the inside and outside thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a sterile ampule package as above described wherein said plug is provided with a portion for insertion in the ampule and another portion adjacent thereto, the latter providing a linger grip and the former having a series of relatively short narrow, generally parallel and longitudinal slits therein, whereby the ampule may be held in the vial with the slit enlarged portion of the plug at the opening of the vial, the slits providing communication or vents between the outside of the vial and the inside thereof, and the same may be interiorly sterilized by autoclaving; after the sterilization, the plug is easily pushed n to seal the vial by the unslit portion of the plug and positioning the ampule with reference to the closed end of the vial; and the provision of' a second plug which is used to initially close one end of a vial, Which may be in the form of a simple tube originally having both ends open.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the vial, illustratin'g the ampule in position before autoclaving;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the final position ofthe ampule within the vial;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation illustrating the plug;

Fig 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Z,865,524 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 Fig. 5 is an end view of the plug, looking in the direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 3.

In carrying out this invention, there is provided an exterior container or vial, which is herein illustrated in' the form of a cylindrical tube 10. This tube may have one end closed or it may be open at both ends, as shown, in which case it is adapted to be easily closed by means of a rubber plug or similar device 12 located at one end of the vial, leaving the other end open. The vial may be made of glass or any other suitable material and at its open end is adapted to be closed by a plug which is generally indicated at 14 and is shown n detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This plug may be substantially cylindrical and may or may not be provided with a reduced end portion 16. The plug has a central opening at one end as at 18, leading to an interior chamber 20.

The chamber 20 is preferably generally of the shape illustrated, providing the restricted neck portion 22 adjacent to opening 18. The plug is preferably made of rubber or some other yelding material, so that the head 24 of the snap-off type of ampule may be received and held therein. The restricted portion 22 of the plug thereby easily accepts but firmly holds the ampule at tne usual restricted neck thereof 26, which may be scored for easy breaking, all as clearly shown n Figs. 1 and 2.

The diameter of the plug at the widest portion thereof, which is indicated at 28 in Figs. 3 and 4, is of a size to form a hermetic seal at the open end or mouth of the glass vial, and yet it allows ready removal of the ampule. To this end it is preferable to incorporate a lubricant of suitable type, e. g. paraffin Wax, n the material of the plug. At portion 28 of the plug, it is provided with a series of short slits 30 which run into and extend from the restricted portion 16 inwardly, terminating at an intermediate point in the length of the plug portion 28. These slits are generally parallel and longitudinal, and appear at the surface of the plug as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 As shown n Fig. l, the ampule having been assembled with relation to the plug, this unit is now inserted in the container 10 and slid inwardly to a point where the slits 30 form vents, i. e. a communication between the inside of the container 10 and the atmosphere, even though the ampule and plug are rmly held in container 10 by the material of the plug between slits, the diameter of the plug n portion 28 being uniform from end to end thereof. It will be noted that the end of the ampule indicated at 32 n Fig. 1 is spaced from the plug 12. In this position of the parts, the same may be sterilized in an autoclave and during the sterilization, .steam Will enter the interior of the container 10 through the slits to sterilize the outside surface of the ampule. After autoclaving, the plug is merely pressed inwardly into the vial, carrying with it the ampule, until the end 32 of the ampule contacts plug 12 and the unit is sealed and ready for storage or use.

When the ampule is to be used, the plug provides a grip for removing the ampule from container 10 and also provides a handle by which the head of the ampule may be quickly, easily, and safely snapped off. It will be seen that the plug protects the fingers of the user from the jagged edge frequently formed when the snap-off ampule is opened, and, therefore, it will be clear that the plug may be used as a protective device for a conventional snap-off ampule even when it is not necessary to provide a package maintaining the sterility of the ampule at the exterior surface thereof.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A sterile ampule package comprising an outer conv a substantially rigid ampule positioned within the outer container, s'aid a rnpule having a head portion, a plug fitting in one end of the container and adapted when fully, in serted to seal t he ampule the. outer,;. container, said plug being provided w ith.a chamber. open- .ing, into the interior, of 7 the container hut closed .to ;the

body of the ampulewby a restricted nec kportion, and the chamber in said plug beingenlargeci anti receiving the headport ion and heirigprovidegl with amestricted portion ccom od t n the qkpprtion f v va p inner face of the plug terminatingat,saidrestrieted portion, i

2. A sterile amp ule packageas set xforth in claim l, wherein the container isprovided withurneans suh st an- .tially removed from the plug end, adapted tg be engaged hy the ampule when the. plug is inserted for limiting, the movement of the plug and ampule nto the container.

3. A sterile ampule package as set forth in claim l, wherein the plug has a plurality of positions of insertion relatve to the container, said plug having Vent means providing communication between the interior and exterior of the container in onc position of insertion of the plug into the container, and in another position fully sealing the ampule within the container.

4. A sterile ampule package as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vent means comprises one or more passages extending longitudinally of the plug at, the periphery thereof, terminating short of the outer. endvof the plug and communicating with the interior of the container when the plug is inserted therein.

References Cited n the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 691698 Osborn e Mar. 18, 1902 959,657 Van Ronk May 31, 1910 20 ,1,641,40,0 Stump Sept. 6, 1927 2,669370 RoyaH Feb. 16, 1954 2,7l8,973

Dahl et ai. Sept. 27, 1955 

